opening in the bush, and this time I had thought 

 of nothing and seen nothing except the things I picked 

 out and recognised as we hurried along. To my 

 half-opened beginner's eyes these things were familiar : 

 we had passed them before ; that seemed to be good 

 enough : it must be right ; so on we went, simply 

 doing the same circle a second time, but this time the 

 reverse way. The length of my shadow stretching 

 out before me as we started from the molehill was a 

 reminder of the need for haste, and we set off at a smart 

 double. A glance back every few minutes to make 

 sure that we were returning the way we had come was 

 enough, and on we sped, confident for my part that 

 we were securely on the line of the koodoo and going 

 straight for the waggons. 



It is very difficult to say how long this lasted before 

 once more a horrible doubt arose. It was when we 

 had done half the circle that I was pulled up as if 

 struck in the face : the setting sun shining into 

 my eyes as we crossed an open space stopped me ; 

 for, as the bright gold-dust light of the sunset met 

 me full, I remembered that it was my long shadow 

 in front of me as we started from the molehill that 

 had urged me to hurry on. We had started due east : 

 we were going dead west ! What on earth was wrong ? 

 There were the trees and spaces we had passed, a 

 blackened stump, an ant-bear hole ; all familiar. What 

 then was the meaning of it ? Was it only a temporary 

 swerve ? No ! I tested that by pushing on further 

 along the track we were following, and it held steadily 

 to the west. Was it then all imagination about having 



144 



